Cobham Hall remained the family home of the Earls of Darnley until 1957 and is now an independent girls' boarding and day school for ages 11 to 18. It is open to the public on a limited number of days each year.

The building has also been used as a film set. A scene in Agent Cody Banks 2 in which Frankie Muniz fights Keith Allen in a room full of priceless treasures was filmed in the Gilt Hall. Scenes from an adaption of Bleak House were also filmed outside the building, and it was also used in a few scenes in the comedy sketch show Tittybangbang.